15. The Bureau reviewed another request from Tanzania, for the purchase of equipment for protecting the archaeological and palaeontological site of Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Bureau, however, deferred its recommendations on this request, since the site had been inscribed on the World Heritage List under natural criteria. The Bureau, though, suggested that ICOMOS and the Secretariat provide further information on the relevance of cultural values for the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List at the forthcoming meeting of the Bureau and, subsequently, at the session of the Committee.

The Bureau also considered the desiderability of revising the criteria under which certain properties have previously been included, in order to determine whether other cultural or natural criteria did not also apply.

38. The Committee noted that the Bureau had examined in detail the requests for international assistance presented in document SC-89/CONF.004/7. The Committee also took into consideration that the Bureau had incorporated additional information received by the Secretariat since the preparation of this document into its evaluations.

39. In accordance with the procedures for granting international assistance set out in the Operational Guidelines adopted by the Committee in December 1988, the Committee approved the following requests:

C. The Committee deferred the following requests for technical cooperation and requested that the State Parties revise their proposals providing additional information:

48. The Bureau considered a request by the United Republic of Tanzania for the purchase of a Land Rover and radio equipment at a cost of US$49,782 for use at the archaeological and palaeontological site of Olduvai in the Ngorongoro conservation area.

The Bureau agreed in principle to make a favourable recommendation to the Committee concerning that request. However, before finalizing its recommendation, the Bureau asked the Tanzanian authorities to provide it with information, in time for it to be considered before the next session of the Committee, concerning the comprehensive plan to safeguard and develop the palaeontological site Olduvai and concerning the purposes for which the requested vehicle would be used in the context of the comprehensive development plan.

In addition, the Bureau asked that it be informed of any funds that might be granted by other international institutions or organizations specifically for the conservation of the Olduvai site.

46. The Committee examined the document prepared by the Secretariat in this regard and congratulated the Secretariat on its clear presentation of the requests submitted. Considering the Bureau's recommendations, the Committee decided to approve the following requests:

A - TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION

CULTURAL PROPERTIES

1. Ngorongoro Conservation Area (United Republic of Tanzania) US$49,782Purchase of a Land Rover and radio equipment for the archaeological and paleontological site of Olduvai.

2. Studenica Monastery (Yugoslavia) US$51,000Purchase of computer and photographic equipment and equipment for the restoration of murals. With respect to this site, the Committee has noted with satisfaction the assurances provided by the Yugoslavian authorities that there will be no dam construction near the monastery which could jeopardize the outstanding value of this site.

3. Archaeological site of Delphi (Greece) US$50,000Purchase of a sandblaster and seven dehumidifiers for the restoration of objects from the site which have been placed in the Delphi museum. The Committee examined the possibility of acceding to requests concerning the conservation of objects from archaeological sites, and it asked the Secretariat to draw up a draft decision on this issue for inclusion in the Operational Guidelines, to ensure that the fund allocation limits for objects from archaeological sites protected by the World Heritage Convention are clearly defined. This draft decision is to be presented to the Bureau and Committee at their next sessions.

4. Timbuktu (Mali) US$45,138Consolidation of the Djingareiber mosque and improvement of terrace rainwater drainage systems. Removal of sand from the walls and interior court of the Sankore mosque, and installation of bollards to divert traffic away from the mosque.

5. International symposium on the "Preservation of Urban Historic Areas in Changing Times" (Canada) US$26,000Publication of the proceedings of the symposium.

NATURAL PROPERTIES

1. La Amistad National Park (Panama) US$50,000As part of the described management plan, financing of the construction of three guard posts; purchase of field equipment and materials for environmental education activities; organization of training seminars for park guards.

3. Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (Costa Rica)US$50,000The Committee approved this request under two conditions: that the Costa Rican authorities report on the completion of the previous projects and that the boundaries of this property be revised in accordance with IUCN recommendations. The Committee instructed the Bureau to determine at its next session whether these conditions had been met before deciding whether to award an appropriate amount to Costa Rica.

47. With respect to Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania), the Committee noted that a request for technical cooperation had been submitted to the Secretariat but that this request needed to be reformulated. The Committee encouraged the Mauritanian authorities to prepare and submit a new request for consideration at its next session.